Fishermen voted to remove this small P.E.I. bridge for safety reasons, but many want it to stay

There's a debate happening in a small northeastern P.E.I. community about the future of a century-old bridge that some say is a safety risk, but others consider a piece of history that should be preserved.  

A slim majority of fishermen in Naufrage recently voted in favour of removing the 15-metre wooden Bailey bridge that spans the narrow channel into the community's harbour. 

Nathan Cheverie, a fisherman and president of the Naufrage Harbour Authority, said the bridge is too low for larger modern fishing boats to pass under when there are larger swells.  

"It's a low clearance when we're trying to get in and out of the harbour and it causes issues throughout the season," Cheverie said. "We haven't seen a major catastrophe…. [But] it's not for the faint of heart, that's for sure."

Meanwhile, hundreds of people have signed an online petition that argues replacing the old bridge with a new, higher structure is the way to go. 

"This bridge is more than just a structure — it's a piece of our history, our economy, and our way of life," a preamble to the petition stated. "It is also the last remaining crossing of the Old Queen's Road, an important piece of Prince Edward Island's heritage.

"Removing it would sever a historic and necessary connection that has existed for generations." 

Wayne MacDonald, who fished out of Naufrage Harbour for many years, said he worries removing the bridge altogether could hurt tourism to the area. 

The harbour and nearby beach attract lots of visitors to during the summer, he said, so he thinks the bridge should be replaced and raised. 

"If you wanted something on the other side, you'd have to go all the way around, which is pretty inconvenient," MacDonald said. 

"I'd like to see a new one put in, raised up four feet or five, whatever they need, which should be convenient for everybody." 

According to directions on Google Maps, the driving time from one side of the harbour to the other using Route 16 is about six minutes. 

Fisheries and Oceans Canada, or DFO, is responsible for maintaining bridges and other infrastructure in small craft harbours.  

After the Naufrage bridge was damaged by post-tropical storm Fiona, DFO made repairs in the spring of 2023 to keep it operational.